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Committees hear testimony from State Department on Benghazi

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    Reps. Jeff Duncan, Eliot Engel weigh in

  • Duration 6:05
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For that.

Now turning to that scathing report this week against the State Department to its fuel and not -- debate after independent panel criticized what it called.

There were grossly inadequate security.

After diplomatic compound in -- Ghazi and that attack led to the deaths of four Americans including ambassador Chris Stevens.

Also in senate hearings this week State Department officials conceded that mistakes were made.

And are promising to fix security concerns but lawmakers are still demanding answers from secretary of state Hillary Clinton who has yet to testify.

About that tragic event.

Joining us now to members of the house -- committee.

Well -- congressman Jeff Duncan and democratic congressman Eliot Engel gentlemen welcome great to have you here.

Thank you -- -- -- -- what did you with you for State Department officials were removed following that independent panel's report but they didn't criticize the senior officials in this report.

And I also found it odd that mrs.

Clinton was never question what this report either the -- surprise you -- what's your response to that.

Actually surprise me that the sector yourself -- not question.

And one thing -- on that report is that this is labeled as a criminal investigation not a terrorist attack that it is and so.

There are still a lot of unanswered questions after this report and the subsequent hearings.

So when you take a look at what was going on and on that fateful day comes and -- are we -- aren't we.

Learning more in terms what you're.

Then be able to glean from the testimony at this point because we are receiving news that cables were sent.

Up until that fateful day warning about the security concerns and that's -- this -- cables made actually reached top officials at the State Department.

So why have we heard from them yet.

Let me first of all say what what happened I guess he's a terrible tragedy and we have to make sure that there are no -- -- in the future.

And that's my primary primary concern.

Not to play gotcha politics with who made a mistake -- make a mistake.

Hillary Clinton has been the finest secretary of state that this country has ever had as far as I'm concerned.

And as she has accepted -- -- nine recommendations.

Of the board which would ship made its recommendations.

And has -- even a step further and appointed a deputy secretary of high risk posts but clearly.

Many things went -- strike.

And we have to get to the bottom up and on the report provides a great.

Coordination between -- security.

Of our people -- -- and the the experts in the Middle East there was a reliance on local militias.

To protect our our citizens which is is terrible actually.

And so we've got to make sure that these things don't happen again and by the way congress has to play a role because congress -- been underfunding.

Diplomatic security -- years.

We have to put our money where our mouth is we send our men and women in high risk places and we need to protect them.

Apparently done -- senator Lindsey Graham and others are say they still want to know.

What president Obama's role was during these critical hours when the attack was going out and are pushing for more information.

Saying that.

The idea that this was sparked by a -- video.

Was no longer plausible given the fact that officials knew that security concerns were on the table and that.

The fact that those threats against a compound were already known.

Absolutely I mean we saw and then the report points out that this should not have been a surprise.

That we saw at least twenty incidents.

Different attacks in and around in Nazi.

And the folks that come back from Iraq and Afghanistan today when the local population -- shut their doors close their windows and getting off the -- -- get right to happen.

When they and it concerns me as what was our military posture in the region that could've been.

Called upon it should've been called upon to rescue those four Americans -- the Marines and Italy yours or Turkey or possibly on a naval vessel on the Mediterranean.

Then called upon to rescue for Americans who get their lives.

But is she really quickly on this one though there are people who -- rescued.

At that compound and as I understand it those people who were rescued have yet to be identified and -- Given access kind of in congress have access -- and to those individuals to ask -- what happened on the -- why is that happening right now why shouldn't those people.

BS to come forward.

We'll look that they should be an end and we need to get to the bottom of it we've been -- we've been briefed on classified way and we've we've had hearings and Secretary Clinton.

Is going to come to the foreign affairs committee in January and I want to get to the bottom of this but I think the important thing is we have to be fair.

That Barack Obama is no more responsible for what happened and -- Ghazi.

Then that George Bush was responsible for 9/11.

Or Ronald Reagan was responsible for the killing of 200 plus Marines in in in Beirut.

This terrorism all around all around this world and we need need to make sure that our people.

Are are in harm's way.

Not to point fingers but to make sure.

And this never happens to American diplomats ever again in the future.

-- -- Well you know I guess the question -- ask is when the president met this attack was occurring.

When was -- -- stand -- order issued and -- him.

And then we all knew it was a terrorist attack he said that on his statement on the next day -- and took the effect as a terrorist attack but then.

The UN ambassador went out and said this was in relation to a video of America knows better they smell a rat here they wanna find out the answers on what went on many guys in what was going on in -- -- While for Americans.

Basically sacrificed their lives especially to that we're -- sales and has served our country and so there's only a lot more hearings on this to -- the bottom.

You both expected mrs.

Clinton will be testifying hopefully before she steps down yet still she says she come in in January she was going to come this week you know which she had a a fault but she'll be back and we'll ask -- questions.

Thelma thank you very much for your insights appreciate it you may Christians need to.

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